Ammunition container



March 9, 1948. w. V.'-GOO'DHUE ET AL 2,437,425.

AMMUNITION CONTAINER Filed Dec. 19, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 fnvemarsWilliam YGood/vue JamesP/Vorzon B zfhz'r/lzzorney March 9, 1948.

w. v. GQODHUE ETAL v AMMUNITION CONTAINER Filed Dec. 19, 1945 6 sheetssheet 2 Inventors William V Good/1116 James P/Vorzorz Attorney Bh ezrMarch 9, 1948. w. v. GOODHUE ET AL AMMUNITION CONTAINER Filed Dec. 19,1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 1 I I I I I I l l J I I I I I II Match 1948' w.v. GOODHUEET AL 2,437,425

AMMUN ITION CONTAINER Filed Dec. 19, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I l I l Ifizveniors 29- mzzzam-yaoodhue JamesP/Vorzon B thezrAtzorrzey PatentedMar. 9, 1948 2,437,425 I AMIVIUNITION CONTAINER William V; Goodhue,Ipswich, and James P. Norton, Beverly, Mass., asslgnors to United ShoeMachinery i Corporation,

Fleming-ton,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 19, 1945, SerialNo. 635,867

This invention relates to an ammunition container for a number of roundsof ammunition and more particularly to a container transportable as aunit and suitable for storing readily accessible ammunition near thegunsto be supplied.

The invention is herein illustrated as embodied 3 Claims. (01. 31296) ina container suitablefor mounting on the platform of a large caliber gunand arranged to store eleven rounds of ammunition, the container havingan opening through which manual loading may be accomplished and a secondopening from which successive rounds may be delivered with the aid of apower driven endless conveyor to a delivery apron or tray easilyaccessible to a gunner.

One object of the invention is to provide a transportable and unitaryammunition container including power means for successively deliveringone at a time, rounds stored and protected within the container to anopen and exposed position within the reach of a gunner, with means forautomatically initiating the delivery of each round after the precedinground has been manually removed from the exposed position by the gunner.Another object of the invention is to provide an ammunition containerwhich may be manually loaded with the aid of a motor driven conveyor andwhich will automatically and successlvely deliver rounds therefrom withthe use of the same motor, the arrangement being such that the manualloading operation cannot interiere with the automatic deliveryoperation.

A feature of the invention is a novel ammunition container which is acomplete unitary device for storing rounds of ammunition, the containerholding a motor driven endless conveyor j the power operation of whichis initiated manually for the loading of eachround as it is receivedfrom'an inclined apron upon which it is introduced, and is controlledautomaticall for the delivery of each round .as a preceding round isremoved by the gunner for use. Another feature is an ammunitioncontainer having an endless conveyor arranged to be driven by anelectric motor'for the purpose of either loading the container ordelivering rounds from the container with a lock or stop mechanism forpreventing interference with an automatic delivery operation by untimelyor inadvertent attempts simultaneouslyand independently to operate theconveyor for loading.

The above and other features of the inventio including novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularlydescribed in'connection withthe accom- In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container in which the presentinvention is embodied, the container being shown opened to receiverounds to be loaded therein and with a portion of the casing broken awaymore clearly to show the interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view 01' the delivery side of the container withthe parts in positions for delivering rounds and with parts broken awayfor ease of illustration:

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation oi. the end of the container at whichpower is applied;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3 withrounds of ammunition in place on the conveyor;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V of Fig.4 with nine roundsin position on the conveyor and one round delivered to a position whichmay be convenient for a gunner;

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view taken alon the line VI-VI of Fig. 4and showing two rounds positioned on the conveyor: and

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical circuitscontrolling the conveyor.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the container is shown as embodying a base plate I0 andtwo vertical end plates l2 and I4, these plates being joined by a topcurved casing plate l6 and bottom s de plates I8 and 20. The base plate10 is extended to one side at 22 forming a support for a motor 24 theshaft of which is provided with a conventio al spring operated frictionbrake of the block type generally indicated at 26 (Fig. 2). A solenoid2'! is operatively connected to the brake in such a manner thatenergization thereof will compress the brake spring and release thebrake as will beunderstood. End brackets 30, 32 (Fig. 1) and 34 (Fig. 2)are bolted to the end plate l4. Guide brackets 3l,'33 and 35 (Fig. 3)are bolted to the end plate l2 and the plates l2 and M are spaced byeight stiffening bars 36 (Fig. 5) which serve to lend rigidity to theentire container. A thin plate 40 extends the length of the containerinterior and is vertically positioned and bolted to the end plates I 2and I4. At a position somewhat removed from one end of the container, aguide flange 42 is provided extending over the top and down both sidesoi. the plate 40. The

' central flange of a, T bar 44 (Fig. 1) supported by twostiflening'rods 36, on the loading side of the container, is placed inthe same vertical plane as is the flange 42 to serve as a guide for therounds, as will bee subsequently described. The

four uppermost horizontal stiffening bars 36 are joined by an arcuatestrip 46 which is located in the same vertical plane as the flange 42and serves also as a guiding means with the flanges 42, 44.

The bottom portions of -the end 'plates I2 and I4 areprovide'dwithmoller bearings'fiii and 52 (Fig. 4) supporting a shaft 54to which a driving sprocket 58 is keyed, which sprocket carries 8/?chain 58 leading to a sprocket 60 on -.-the=:shait-.- of the motor 24.Also keyed to the shaft 54 but within the rack casing are the twosprockets' iill and 62 (Fig. 4) meshing withtendlessmchains-M and 66respectively. The straight runs 'oftthez ttai-nen. The. exteriorsprocket 56 driven by the motor isprovided with a circular plate I50which issadinstaiblyfaffixe'dfthereto by means of three chains 64 and 65are vertical and engage sprockets 15' bearings I2 and I4 are similarlymountedfthat is, each is carried on a stub shaft I6 mounted within' abracket i8 firmly sheld thereto by means: of a nut Bil. The tension ofthe ohains fi i and-66 is' suitably regulate'd -byi adiusting the:vertical positions of the two brackets 183 Each-' bracket 8 i-Drovided-with s1ots' 8'I and boIt's BZ- bymeanS of which the adjustment:m'ay be' inaintained.

The upper portion of' the plate: 4ii is -proi' id edwith a cup 84 (Fig.6) containing one 'end of acoil spring'BB; the other endof the spring-85being retained Within a cupi- 88 iaste'ned toa defle'ctor" plate 90which, in turn, ispivoted at flz 'on brackets 94 and 96 (Fig. 4) boltedto theplat flfithrebj forming a buffer the operati ofwhich will besubsequentl described The" suspensionof tlie plate'tfi is by means ofpivoting bosses== 98 and I 60 which bosses are providedtvitiishouldrsfor-com tacting the upper end of tli late ifl and for limitingtheoutward swing =movement of the deflector plateor bufi''r 'flfl z' Nearone-'end-of the casing i the bottom-*of the container is' provided withan arcuate' plate IGF (Fi'g s'4) to'i'which'ds bolted anarcuateguiding-track 5 I i122? At the back or "loading side'- thecontainer (Figs 1) is provided with a door- 1iifi -which may be loweredto uncover aloadi'fig-apron I ilti pivoted for downward-swingingmovement upon -short"shafts= extending 'from" and 'held"-in'--'-the twoen-d p1at'es I2 and-'"I4. Slotted 1inks= I I? and I2 -limit' tlie extentof downwardmovement of theapron and; hold it when in'its lo'weredpositionat' aninclina tion such-as to cause a round place'd on the apronto roll gently into pla'ce--ton"the conveyorv The: loading apron 'I H8is provided with shell guiding flanges I I4 and I I6. As each roundintrodueed' should 'roll properly, flange 1 I his of a-height-"ton allowfor the smaller diameter of 'the shell its'elf as compared with 1 thecartridge: casing: Flange I IBhasa paralllsmaller flan-ge I IT-and thesetwo' flanges cooperate in guidingthe-rim of "the care tridge casin'g."Atthe front' or delivery side=of the container a door- I I8' (Fig ZJ 'iShin'ged tG the top edgeof the-casing plate '2IJ-and in Figi 2is'-"shown' in its lowered position; disclosing a": delivery apron Iwhich"is pivot ed at 22 and'i I 24" upon the casing end pl-a't'es'I 4and' l 2 to' -swi-r'ig; outwardly. The delivery? apron- I 2 bearsshellguiding :fl'a'nges I 257i and. :I 28?;simiiar2tdrthe :fl'ang'es" II4 andI-iI I5 oftiithewloading. apron: Beneath'i'thedeliveryaproniissacchannelzbar I 3i ?(Figsct2 and ifl extending from oneendpfithemon-tainento:the? other and :bearing swinging bracketsA Stand;.I 34. The-bracket .I 34 has alocking-.-pi-n-.-l seflalthoughnot'ess'ential). for holding it-.with.relation lto:the-- apron-in itsoutermostaposition aeshown irr- Fig. ;.2- and thewbracketul 32:may-gbenprovidedlyvith a' sim-a ilar pin (not shown) for locking it inits outerboltszextendingethrough three arcuate slots in thesprockettfias shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The

-plate'"*l5U is-provided with three pins I52 (Fig. 3)

extendingrtowardtheend plate I2. Fig. 2 shows one of the pins I52 moreclearly. A manual control l'ever I60 is pivoted to the casing at I62 andone end of a spring I64 extending from a pin I65 omthe bontainen-pla-teI 2 is attachedthereto for swinging: the-lever. I 601 either-111p. ordown beyou'd a ;dea;d;center1position. I The lever I 6I3 isbent toformaaflange 66- and is;also formed: to provide: a toe section. .I68.eThe-operation ofindexinggthe conveyor control switch I 4t is primarilyperformed bygan armsl m :piyotedtoxa -.rod.-: I 88 which, at its lower;end,.-..passes slooselye through an? enlargedopeningeinrthesflan'ge 466.1 Rod-4 3D-carries=a knob I 84 zadapted z-tobenengaged' by; the 1yfiange- 156-. Theetrigger mechanism rorsfingerr: I 42 extending;oventha-delivery;apron: I 20 has.- arearwardly ex tending forksl43.'(Fig 5) adaptedrto .engageethe under side -ota headeor collar I41formedatrthe: upper end of a vertically actuable rod 203.

'Iheadelivery ;.tray 501" apron-i I 20w is pivoted: on the-same-centeniB5. :-(F!1g.- .5)i-as theitrigger finger:

' I 4 2;randetheeaisrangementiis such: that; a: swinging:

of :tthe eaprond 2-P0tfb$zfi leverwj 90 on: thez-zexe' teriorsofthercasing lto-zwhich zleverzisf pivoted tthe'? uppenend'ofia ilOdnl927- Clampedutoqthe rod 1 92" isan arm I 94ewl nchservesi'toi'hold aswitchiopercoating lever .I 96 outmf engagement withia' roller..-onethearmaflll. of:theiindexing control switch I45 when theapronl2flziszriniits closedforzinnerposis tionwandi-thewoperation; ofrythe-conveyor 1S" to-be': controlledz-for the purpose .ofx-lo'adingz the;cons:- taineras wi-l1-;be-:-further. described. Therver tical .rod 2 U04Figg5 is: springsloadedeinside :ther casingin relation to asupportingbracket 2 i! I and" tends to -.holdthe-rlever: I95*(Fig.i 3)against the roller of-the-:switch control lever I 10 through aneccentric! arrangement; For this purpose, the lower-endrof.the-*rod-ZIN) isprovidedwith ahori: zontal slotengagin'ggapin'203 (Fig.5) eccentrical'ly mounted on a disk 205'WhiCh"SIVES as a'crank-toturnzashaft EDT-(Fig 3). This latter shaft passes through andoutsidethe end plate I 2 of vthe rackrcasing; Theelevert I96is suitablyafiiXed-totheishaft-ilfl'l so that they rotate together when actuated bya 1vertica1': movement 3 of the rod 20111-1 The lower'end of.'the rod,I92-ex'-.- tends.loosely,-through :an;enlarged opening 'in' theflange'al 6620f. :jthe;-.-controlv lever. ISO-and the: rod; I92-.=hasaknob? I 93* on .itsr-lowerr end which." is" adaptedto :engage: theutoe:I 68-iof-the lever. I60 during-delivery oft-rounds to-tthe. tray; I281;

Thenconveyor chains-e64 and: 66 support-elevenparallelarods,*202z'suitably' spacedzto: hold? the rounds -R.(Figs'.:.4,r,5 and 6)-in their5proper posi-v tions for storage andhandling. Eachrod-zillis- .provided: with a groove 204 (Fig. 4).-forreceiving the'ridge or'nimat the-.end-of a cartridge casing.Theroperationwofsthe container may be 'de-' scribedias-sfollows". When:thelmain powerswitch; I44 is on, the starting and stopping of theconveyor is controlled b ltheindexing control switch I46. This switch isoperated manually during the loading of the container andautomaticallyduring round delivery. With both switches I44 and I46 on, the electricmotor 24 will rotate the sprockets through thechain drive-and causeoperation of the conveyor. With both aprons I08 and H8 closed, theguiding flanges on those aprons retain the rounds in place on theconveyor and the rounds aremoved around,- srncothly, their guidancebeing aided icy-guide disks 208 mounted on the bars 202. As the shell ofeach round is smaller in diameter than the cartridge casing the disks208 serve to keep the shells properly spaced and each round in ahorizontal position.

When loading the conveyor,- the loading door 106 is first opened andthenthe loading apron I99 is lowered into the position shown in Figs. 1 and3. The main power switch I44 is closed and the first round is thenplaced on the apron I08, the end or rim of the" cartridge casing beingguided by thefial'l ges I I6 and H1. Theround is then rolled onto a rod202 of the shell carrier with a slot 204 of the rod receiving the flangeon the cartridge casing and holding the round against endwise movement.The lever I60 is then tripped upwardly (in acounterclockwise direction)beyond dead center, thereb closing the contacts of the control switchI46 by pulling down on rod I80 and. lever I10. This energizes the motorbrake solenoid 21 and driving motor 24, as can be seen in the diagram ofFig. '1, causing the brake 26 to be released and the motor shaft torotate, with the consequent rotation of the conveyor in the direction ofthe arrows as shown in Fig. 3. The

conveyor continues to move until one of the sprocket ring pins I52contacts the under side or cam surface of the toe I68 oi lever I60. Thiscam surface was moved into the path of the pins I52 when the oppositeend of lever I60 was tripped.

upwardly. Contact of a pin I52 with the cam surface with the aid of thespring I64 causes the control lever I80 to return to its originalposition opening the apron I20 serves to lift the rod I92 (as in Fig. 3)and the switch operating rod I80 to open the contacts of the indexingcontrol switch I 46 deenergizing the driving motor and brake solenoid.The switch I46 is so constructed that lever I10, when released, isbiased by a spring (not shown) into the open position. The motor andconveyor will therefore-come to rest with the next round carrier. rod202 at the loading station to receive the next round from the loadingapron I08. The pins I52 are held in angular adjustment about the shaft54 by means of the bolts attaching the plate I50 to the sprocket 56.This adjustment is provided so that the pins I52 may be set to stop theconveyor in the proper position relative to the loading station. Aftereleven rounds have been placed on the conveyor the apron I08 should beclosed. If the ammunition container is not to be used immediately thecover I06 should also be closed.

The round delivery station is located in the upper front section of thecontainer and is shown in the open or deliver position in Figs. 2 and 5.When not in use the delivery station is closed, as shown in Fig. 3. Ifrounds are to be delivered to the delivery apron I20, door H8 islowered, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. After making sure that the mainswitch I44 is open (as it should be when the container is not being usedexcept for storage), brackets I32 and I34 are first swung,

by means of the lever I90. This brings the collar or knob I93 on thelower end of the rod I92 up against the fiange I66, thereby preventingthe manual control lever I60 from being tripped accidentally. It isclear that the automatic delivery operation should not be interferedwith by a simultaneous actuation of the switch I46 through the leverI60. The lifting of the rod I92 also lifts the arm I94, permitting thelever I96 to close the switch I46, when required to do so, by the fingerI42 acting through the fork I43, rod 200, pin 203, disk 205 and pin 201.The deflector or buffer is adapted to yield as the rounds pass down overit during the loading operation withthe apron I26 in the closedposition, but when the delivery apron is open, the rounds aresuccessively deflected out onto thedelivery apron guides I26 and I20 asneeded and as the conveyor is operated. The presence of a round at thedelivery station and on the delivery apron I20 causes a depression ofthe finger I42, thereby raising the spring-loaded rod 200 by means ofthe fork I43 on the rear end of the finger I42 engaging the collar orhead I41 on the rod 200. The pin 203 extending horizontally from theslot in the bottom end of the rod 200 is thereby lifted, and the leverI96 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. It.can be seen, therefore, that, as each round of ammunition rolls onto thedelivery apron I20, the finger I42 is depressed, this action permittingthe lever I10 to swing upwardly and thereby open the contacts of theswitch I46 and stopping the conveyor. When a round is removed from theapron I20, the finger I42 will rise because of the spring on the rod200, and the rod 200 will lower slightly and, by means of the pin 209,will rotate lever I96 to close the switch I46, thereby starting theconveyor and causing another round to be deflected out upon apron I20.

When the delivery apron I 20 is in its closed position (as it is in Fig.3), the lever I90 holds the rod I92 in its lowest position. At the sametime, the arm I94 (which is attached to the rod I92) holds the lever I96from rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 and preventsthe finger I42 and the spring-loaded rod 200 from closing the switchI46.

The entire device is compact and so constructed that it may be providedwith porter bars (not shown) or other means facilitating its beingtransported as a complete unit.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An ammunition container comprising a casing having adelivery opening,means for supporting a round outside said opening and accessible to agunner, power means for conveying successive rounds within said casingand through said opening, and a trigger mechanism operated by the weightof a round on said supporting means for terminating the. operation ofsaid power means, the said container forming a transportable andprotective ammunition storage unit.

2. An ammunition container for mounting upon a gun platform, saidcontainer comprising a vertical casing with sprockets at each endsupporting an endless chain conveyor for moving rounds in a circuitwithin said casing and extending vertically by a loading opening and adelivery opening,;;? n PQ1k igv tedata extend; mtowancli pme. a h;flsaida penin g gqwer mi: 11 .5...1 .1:opera ninev aid-:conyem bu iezo-meansnlocated ,adiapent to, d iltvery o en n ;fa dnarra edlto yie d.upon assaeenfi the ounds -sa cld rcu W enpa a e .of'. thev ou ds. trough t etsieliyemopen ne s sed z y one at said: ap ne'and-ytd ha e heounds when yth fl eliv x .T penin i r open, m ansfor manual ywc nztm linsaid p w rm ansn nin iiheloadin @9 rounds n .the. otheloifiaid p zo sidiihrq l} s id oadin eopeni .autw

eanetexdel fver .oneround at. a time or de ve y y' i bufie:meanstsaidauiz maticlm a s p m-i. pmsin a tri er..m qhanisml cated n psi on t be; operated byeontant with successively delivered rounds, andacove shf nsaid openings.

3.! Amammunitiqr ;icontainencqmpx s ua casin dhal-vin aioad n mn ningand a, de1ivery, p 11 powendriyen panallelfipa edmeanskaltmneed to suppunt. and convey, success iyevrounds efrom ax sit on adiaeentm nei pe inFt QaKP BiB n dy.

J centn hd th r, means fonomanually, t in saiaipgw ro drienemeans,dmlned e lqad nept, und .mh nu xis id'l ad n v'p gnin t,au mtic; mane for ntxoll pa dim r iv n ean to deliver one round at i a time.rthrougl l -eejd de liv ry. o eni e'sa d autom t c mean bmprisin a irwme anis lo ated, in o i io be operated by. \co ntagig with suceessively delivered ds, and mean ior. ck n aid manua i n:

. rolvmea sewhen.o dza o at c; o me s is in .operatiom ,GQQDHUEZ AMESJ-PB Q REFERENCES 011 121) The following refenencesmare of reqo,rd.m the.file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Nam-me D 418

